Spirit-level



(No Model.)

J. HARTFORD. SPIRIT LEVEL.

P ag e-nted May 31.

INVENTOR IILLM azzm wm;

' UNIT D STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JonN HARTFORD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SPll-ilT-LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,985, dated May 31,1898.

I Applioatlon filed January 25, 1897. fierisl No. 620,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

I Be it known that I, JOHN HARTFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpirit-Levels;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to spirit-levels.

construction which will be adapted for use on bevels or slopes and alsoas a try-square and one which can be used on both sides.

A further object is to provide a. novel form of level having ruled sidesand one which can be used at any degree. of inclination, as founddesirable.

4 Further objects will appear more fully hereinafter in the descriptionof the invention, where the'constrnction of the device will be clearlysetup, and the novel features thereof pointed out in the appendedclaims.

'2 5 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of mycomplete level; Fig.

' 2, a'perspective view showing-the gage of the device in use and thetry-square extended, and Fig. 3 a cross-section. 3o The body of thelevel is cast in a single piece 1, which is of rectangular shape andopen inside, the same being provided with leveling-faces 2 and 3, ruledoff7as shown, and provided with two elongated slots4 arid 5 and anintermediate slot 6, the slots of the two sides being locatedin'alinement. Projecting from the inner faces of the end walls-are sets-ofears-7and8.

The numerals 9 and 10 designatecross-.

pieces whichextend from side to side,being cast integral with the frameand located at opposite ends of the intermediate slots 6. These areprovided with sets of cars 11 and 12.

The numerals 13 and 14 designate bars which are pivoted in between thesets of ears 11 and 12. The bars have their free ends.

adapted to be received between the sets of ears 7 and 8, so that theyare retained within. the frame. -The bar 13 is adapted for exten- 5osion transverselythrpugh the slots 4, and the bar 14 may be projectedthrough the slots 5 5 and used as a bevel'or slope gage. It will be seenthat when extended the bar 13 forms, together with one side of theframe, a trysquare. The bars 13 and 14 are pivoted on 5 5clamping-screws 15, whereby said bars may be secured in extendedposition. The crosspieces 9 and 10 are formed integral with V curvedclamp-sections 16.

- The numeral 17 designates a circular glass tube which holds themercury, alcohol, or other suitable fluid employed. This tube fits inbet-ween the cross-pieces 9 and 10 and My object is to provide a levelof simple.

against the clamp-sections'16. Additional detachable clamp-sections 18are employed for securing the tube in position. Said clampsections areprovided with grooves 19. I find i-t preferable to employ rubber or feltpacking 20around the glass tube'where the clampsections encircle thesame'in order to protect-the tube against being broken. There is a gage,and the sameconsists of two bowedout braces 21 and 22 of similarconstruction, which have the pointed arms 21', extending diametricallyat" right angles. to each other. v The two members are secured togetherby a bolt 23.. When these are not in use, they have their pointed endsreceived in the grooves of the clamp-sections, and thus serve asa guardfor the tube. The gage thus provided can be turned around to any desiredpoint and clamped by means of bolts, so that the uppermost arms 21' willindicate where the mercury or air bubble should be located in order togive the desired angle, and hence it will be seen that any desired anglemaybe obtained by using this gage.

- The slots 6 6 are sight-slots to enable the user to see the tube, andthe openings 6 made in the cross-pieces are for the purpose of see 0 ingwhether the object is plumb.

There are many slight'changes which could be resorted to. in carryingout the invention without detracting from any of the advan tagesthereof, and hence I consider myself en-- 9 5 titled to make all suchchanges as properl' come within the spirit of the invention.

' Having thus' described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by- Letters Patent, is,'-- mo 1. In a spirit-level, thecombination with an open body or frame, of gage-bars located within theframe and independently pivoted upon opposite-sides of thecentralportion, and

clamping pivot-screws upon which said bars are mounted,whereby eitherbar may be held in any desired position, independently of the other,substantially as shown and described.

2. In a spirit-level, the combination with a body, of clamp-sectionssecured thereto for holding in place an annular spirit-tube, the ends ofsaid clamp-sections being provided with grooves, and a gage havingradially-extending, pointed arms to fit within said grooves, as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. In a spirit-level, the combination with a body, of an annularspirit-tube fitted in said body, clamp-sections for securing said tubewhich have grooves, and a gage extending diametrically of the tube andpivoted centrally thereof, which also serves as a guard for the tube andhas its ends adapted for reception in the grooves aforesaid when it isnot in use.

4. In a spirit-level, the combination with a body, of an annularspirit-tube connected thereto and exposed on both sides, gagesconsisting of a plurality of arms extending diametrically of the tubeand located on opposite sides thereof, and a bolt or pin passing throughthe center parts of said gages, the latter also serving as protectorsfor the tube.

5. In a spirit-level, the combination with a body, of an annularspirit-tube fitted therein and exposed at both sides, and gages'looatedon opposite sides of the said tube and which consist of bowed-out braceshaving pointed ends bearing against the tube, and a bolt passing throughthe center parts of said gages and through the open space of the tube,said gages serving as protectors for said tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib-

